Pneumatic action



Apr. 17, 1923. 1,451,980

' A. P. GUSTAFSON PNEUHATIC ACTION Iiled Nov. 28, 1919 JT mf if# r. l f l e I` "f u. ff JJ q I+ .-'r l l www.

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Patented pr. 17, 11923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLPH P. GUSTAFSON, OF CHICAGOQILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO M. SCHULZ COMPANY,

VOIE' CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS.

PNEUMATIC ACTION.

Application filed November 28, 1919.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ADoLrH I. GUs'rAF- son, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Actions, of which the following is a full, clear, con-` cise and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specifica-tion.

My invention relates to pneumatic actions and particularly to pneumatic actions such as are used in pneumatic piano players and player pianos.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple, practical and advantageous construction of pneumatic action.

Another object of the invention is to secure simplicity of construction and low cost of manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to obtain compactness so as to reduce the space occupied by the action.

Another object of the invention is to obtain quickness, sensitiveness and accuracy of operation and at the same time secure a high degree of power.

A further obje-ct of the invention is to secure the foregoing and' other desirable results in a simple and expeditious manner.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a portion of a pneumatic action embodying my present invention having part of the same broken away for convenience of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on line 3-3 in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on line 4-4 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings I show a struc- -ture comprising a windway member 1 and a series of combined valve and power pneumati-c structures or members 2 2, arranged below and secured to the under side of said windway member 1. The windwav member 1 is adapted to be arranged within a piano player, or player piano, and the pneumatic members 2-2 are adapted and intended to actuate the strikingr fingers of a piano player or the piano action of a player piano.

The windway member 1 comprises a longitudinally extending member 'la preferably made of wood or some similar material.

Serial No. 341,148.

This member 1a is provided with transversely extending recesses or spaces 3 3' forming pneumatic chambers and said member la is also provided with longitudinally extending ducts or passages 1 -4L forming passageways for affording pneumatic communication between the successive chambers or spaces 3 3. The endmost chamber 3 communicates with a. pipe 5 which is secured tothe end of the windway member l and said pipe or tube 5 is understood to eX- tend to and be in communication with a suitable wind inducing apparatus such as a pump or bellows for controlling pneumatic pressure to operate the action.

Each one of the members 2 is arranged and secured in position below one of the chambers or spaces 3 as shown in Fig. 2. Each member 2 preferably combines valve mechanism and a power pneumatic operated thereby in a single unitary structure, so that each member or device may consist of and be handled as a single unit, notwithstanding it contains or embodies not only the striking or operating pneumatic, but the valve mechanism for pneumatically controlling the same as well.

As shown each member 2 preferably comprises a piece or block 7 also preferably made of wood or some similar material. The upper portion of this piece or block 7 ils provided with a space or recess 8 in which 1s arranged a small hinged' pneumatic 9. The

'swinging leaf of this pneumatic 9 is provided with a rod or arm 10 having a hook 11 which engages and supports a valve 12. The latter is arranged in a valve chamber 13, from which are extended ports or passages 14. The,valve 12 also controls a port or passage 15 which extends to the outside air. The valve chamber 13 is to a large extent closed by a cap or washer 17 fitting in an annular depression in the member 17 and hav ing a central aperture 18 controlled' by said valve 12.

The member 7 of each structure 2 fits against the under side of the windway member 1, said member 7 being somewhat larger than its space 3, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, so that said member 7 forms a bottom or under wall for its space 3 and also so that the valve operating pneumatic 9 lies within the pneumatic chamber 3, and the aperture 18 in the disk 17 communicates with said space or chamber 3. Other windway members 20 are fitted between successive members 2 2 and so close and form the bottom or underneath walls of the longitudinal passages 4 4.

The under portion of each block or piece 7 is adapted and intended to form a part, preferably the fixed part, of the power or actuating pneumatic controlled by the valve mechanism described in connection with each said piece or block 7. To such end the under surface 21 of each block or piece '7 is adapted to form the inner wall of the fixed member of a pneumatic device, the ot-her or swinging member 22 being hinged thereto and flexible material 28 being extended be` tween the members 21 and 22 so as to form a collapsible pneumatic. Preferably the member 22 is hinged upon one of the long edges of the member 7 so that it swings crosswise instead of lengthwise of sai'dmember and the under surface 21 is preferably inclined upwardly from said hinged edge, as shown in F ig. 2 so that the member 22 in normal position may be substantially level or horizontal. The member 22 is provided with a projection or abutment 24y adapted to engage and operate some part, such for example as the abutment or shoulder on a piano action sticker. The ducts 14 pren viously referred to communicate with the interior or chamber 25 of the pneumatic so that said valve 12.

The members 2 2 may be secured in position by any suitable means, as for example screws 27 27 passing downwardly through the member 1"L and into the members 7 7 pneumati-c is controlled by the at the opposite ends of the latter. Tracker Lil board tubes28 28 are extended from the tracker board to the pieces or blocks 7 7 and connect with passages 29 therein which in turn communicates with passages extending `to said pneumatics 9. Nipples 31 having bleed ports 32 are providedv in the swinging members of the pneumatics 9.

ln operation the swinging pneumatic members 22 are in lowered position as shown by three of the four of said pneumatics in said Fig. 2. When a perforation in a music sheet registers with one of the tracker board apertures 'airenters the tracker tube 28 of said aperture and thereby permits air to enter the small pneumatic 9, expanding said pneumatic and causing it to lower the valve 12. When this is done the port 18 is opened, thereby est abilishing communication between the valve` chamber 13 and the pneumatic chamber 3 and closing communication between said valve chamber 13 and the air duct 15. As a result the pneumatic pressure in the chamber 3 is communicated to the interior of the power pneumatic 22 and assuming said chamber 3 to have reduced air pressure, air will be more or less ex*- hausted from the interior 25 of said pneu matic, thereby collapsing said pneumatic and causing the swinging member 22 thereof to swing upwardly. This causesan upward movement ofthe part actuatedby said pneumatic, as for example .the piano action sticker.

l/Vhen the perforation in the music sheet moves out of register with the tracker board aperture, the tracker tube 28 is closed to the outside air and is exhausted by the bleed port 32 in the swinging. member of the pneumatic 9. Consequently said swinging member fa-lls or swings downwardly, thereby causing its arm 10 to lift the valve 12 and close theport 18 and open the air duct 15. As a result communication is closed between the valve chamber 13 and 'the interior 25 of the striking pneumatic and opened between said valve chamber and the outside air through the air ports 15. Consequently air enters the inte-rior of said pneumatic through passages 15 and 14 and causes the expansion of said pneumatic, allowing the .member 22 to drop and the piano action stie ver to fall. Thus on each music sheet perforation registering with a ,tracker board aperture the corresponding poweror striking pneumatic will be actuated,and on cessation of such registration said striking pneumatic will expand, andr this will take place causing the vibration for each music sheet perforation.

The various parts of the action may be readily made by boring or cutting the proper passages or chambers in the various members, thereby-resulting in a very simple construction, very easily and inexpensively manufactured. It will also be seen that the action is not only quick, active and sensitive, but also powerful; also that the different units may be separated from the remainder of the action veryv quick-ly and conveniently.

It will-be understood that changes and modifications may be made without departing` from the spirit of the invention,

that claim is:

1. ln a pneumatic action, the combination of a windway member channelled to provide transverse partition walls forming pneumatic chambers and valve' holding structures secured to s aid windway member and forming closures for said windway member chambers.

2. In a pneumatic action, the combination of an integral windway member channelled to provide transverse partition walls forming pneumatic chambers and valve holding structures secured to the under side of said .viudway member and forming closures for said windway member chambers.

3. In a pneumatic action, the combination of an integral windway member channelled to provide transverse partition walls forming pneumatic chambers and valve holding Lil lll)

structures Secured to said windway member and forming closures tor said windway chambers, said windway member also having longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers.

4. ln a pneumatic action7 the combination of an integral windway member channelled to provide transverse partition walls form ing pneumatic chambers and valve holding structures secured tosaid windway member and forming closures for said windway chambers, said windway member also having longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers and pneumatically operated valve controlling devices mounted on. said structures and arranged inv said chambers. y

5. In a pneumatic` action,l the combination of a windway member channelled to provide transverse partition walls forming pneumatic chambers and valve holding structures secured to said windway member and forming closures for said windway chambers, said windway member also having longitudinally operated valve controlling devices mounted on said structures and arranged in said chambers, said valve controlling devices comprising hinged pneumatics having hooked arms :fbr holding valves.

6. The combination of an integral windway member channelled to provide crosswise Walls forming pneumatic chambers and also with longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers and valve holding structures secured to said windway member and forming closures for said chambers, said structures also embodyingr power nneumatics.

7. The combination ol' windway member provided with crosswise walls formingf pneumatic chambers and also with longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers and valve holding structures 'secured to said windway member and forming closures for said chambers, said structures also embodying power pneumatics, said structures having valve chambers containing valves and carrying small pneumaties cont-rolling said valves and located in said chambers, and said power pneumatics having their fixed members formed the portions of said structures farthest from Said windway member, and their movable members formed by swinging members hinged to said structures.

8. A windway member formed by a piece ot material channelled to provide crosswise walls forming pneumatic chambers and longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers.

9. A windway member formed by a piece of material channelled to provide crosswise walls formingpneumatic chambers and longitudinally extending passmes connecting said chambers, and closures tor said chamcarrying power pneumatics.

l0. A windway member 'formed by a piece of material channelled to provide crosswise walls Yforming pneumatic chambers and longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers, and closures for said chambers carrying power pneumatics which are combined to form unitary structures with said closures.

il. A windway member formed by a piece material channelled to provide crosswise spaces separated by partition walls so as to iorm pneumatic chambers and longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers, and valve holding structures closing said pneumatic chambers and other pieces of material interposed between said valve holding` members to close said longitudinally extending passages.

l2. A windway member formed by a piece of material channelled to provide crosswise spaces separa-ted by partition walls so as to iorm pneumatic chambers and longitudi` nally extending passages connecting said chambers, power pneumatic carrying members closing said crosswise spaces and other pieces of material interposed between said members and closing said longitudinally extending passages.

13. A windway member formed by a piece of material channelled to provide crosswise spaces separated by partition walls so as to form pneumatic chambers and longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers, power pneumatic carrying members closing said crosswise spaces and other pieces ot material interposed between. said members and closing said longitudinally extending passages7 said power pneumatic carrying members also carrying valve mechanism and being provided with pneumatic valve controlling passages communicating with said crosswise spaces.

14. A windway member formed by a piece of material provided with crosswise spaces separated by partition wall so as to form pneumatic chambers and longitudinally extending passages connecting said chambers7 power pneumatic carrying members closing said cresswise spaces and other pieces or material interposed between said members and closing said longitudinally extending passages, said power pneumatic carrying members also carrying valve mechanism and being provided with pneumatic valve controlling passages communicating with said crosswise spaces, said pneumatic carrying members forming unitary structures each of which combines both a power pneumatic and its valve mechanism.

A windway member formed by a piece of material provided with crosswise spaces separated by partition walls so as to form lll() pneumatic chambers and longitudinally eX- tending passages connecting said chambers, power pneumatic carrying` members closing said crosswise spaces and other pieces or' material interposed between Said members and closing said longitudinally extending passages, said power pneumatic carrying members also carrying valve Vmechanism and being provided with pneumatic val-ve controlling passages communicating with said ciosswise spaces, said pneumatic carrying members forming unitary structures each of which'combines both a power pneumatic and its valve mechanism, said pneumatics being iocated on the under side of said members and being arranged to swing` crosswi-se of the same. Y

16. A windway member formed by a piece or" material provided with crosswise spaces separated by partition walls so aste form pneumatic chambers and longitudinally eX- tending passages connecting said chambers, power pneumatic carrying members closing which conieines'both a power pneumatic and its valve. mechanism, each -oi said `members comprising a. block containing pneumatic passages and supporting a. valve which is located in one of said crosswise spaces, and

swinging' member secured to the under 'ide of said block so that the under side of aid block and said swinging member form c poweiI pneumatic.

in witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name thisllth day of November A. D. 1919. i f

ADoLri-i r. eUs'riirsoN. y 

